Guide-frame for gas-holders.



H. J. STOPFELS. GUIDE FRAME EUR GAS HOLDERS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,1912.

Patented Mar. 3. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

uoLuMmA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHNG'FDN, D, c.

H. J. STOEFELS.

GUIDE FRAME FOR GAS HOLDERS.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 29, 1912.

1,089,090, Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ccLuMum PLANoGR/wn ca ,wAsmNm-QN, n, c.

tlldll STATES PATENT FFlCE.

HENRY JOHN STOFFELS, 0F NORWOOID, OHIO.

GUIDE-FRAME FOR GAS-HOLDERS.

ineaoao.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY JOHN STOF- rnLs, a subject of the GermanEmperor, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guide- Frames for Gas-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to guiding means for gas holdersconstructed and arranged in such a manner that if lthe holder issubjected to sudden and severe wind currents the beating of the holderagainst its guides is avoided, also, an easier riding is obtained andthe holder is restored to its perpendicular plane when relieved of suchpressures.

in object of my invention is to provide a gas holder with acircumferential series of guiding carriages, each having a radial rollernormally engaging a guiding surface of the column to center or maintainthe holder in its perpendicular plane, and a tangential roller capableof alternately engaging oppositely disposed guiding surfaces relativelyin a tangent plane to the periplr ery of the roller, whereby thepressures of the holder, due primarily to wind currents, aresymmetrically transmitted to substantially the entire series of guidingcolumns.

Another ob] ect of my invention is to provide a gas holder with a seriesof rollers, each adapted to engage a guide-way and movable radially uponthe holder toward and from its axial line and under a yielding pressuredirect-ing the roller toward its guide to center or maintain the holderperpendicular when relieved of horizontal pressures.

Another object of my invention is to provide a gas holder with a seriesof rollers, each having its diametrical line tangentto the circumferenceof the holder, upon which it is mounted and journaled, with itsperiphery intervening and capable of traversing alternately uponoppositely disposed parallel guiding surfaces having a plane tangent tothe periphery of the rollers. rlhe rollers of the series are relativelydisposed and arranged in opposing sets on diametric or holder bisectinglines, and of interval series in its multiple arrangementcircumferentially around the holder to symmetrically distribute theholder pressures to one guiding surface of each column, which isdisposed at an angle to the direction of the strain, relieving thoserollers moving in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 29, 1912.

Patented Mar. 3,1914.

Serial No. 734,225.

parallelism with the strain to prevent any wedging or binding tendencyof the roller between its guiding surfaces.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pair of guiding rollershaving their diametric lines disposed at right angles to each other totraverse between guide ways bounding the rollers, mounted on the sameaxial plane, and one concentrically on the Vsupporting shank of theother, and means for preventing rotation of the shank to preventdisturbing the traversing plane of its roller.

Another object of my invention is to provide a guiding column orsupport, having multiple guide ways, two oppositely disposed and one atright angles thereto, between which guiding rollers traverse. rlhecolumns utilized in series polygonally, arranged and placed so that theaxis of the maximum moment of inertia and the maximum section modulus ofthe guiding column fall in a radial line with the holder and not in aline tangent to the holder, as heretofore in use. The preferable columnis the Bethlehem H column, offering right angled reinforcements for eachof the guide ways.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the descriptionof the ac- -companying drawings, forming a part of this application, inWhich:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a gasholder, guiding rollers and theirsupports, with the column shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged endelevation of the rollers and their supporting frame, with a portion ofthe roller and frame broken away to more clearly illustrate theconstruction of the frame, which, in such view, is hidden by such parts.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the frame and rollers and a centralvertical section through the column. Fig. l is a section on line .fu-rc,Fig. 3.

In the drawings l have illustrated a series of ten holder guidingcarriages, and a like number of columns, one for each carriage, but itis obvious that the number can be modified and their relativedisposition changed according to the particular usage and size of theholder. The carriages are shown mounted or secured upon the crown of theholder, but they can be arranged to be mounted upon the sides or at suchpositions and utilized for such purposes as is contemplated in theparticular position and use preferably herein disclosed. Each carriageis pro-vided with one radial and one tangential roller. rIhe radialrollers, yieldingly or movably mounted in radial planes, and in series,function primarily to center the holder or move it to its perpendicularplane when not subjected to Wind pressure. In case of sudden -Windcurrents the radial rollers prevent a beating of the holder against itsguides and impart Wind pressures to the guide frame, only to thecapacity of their spring, then the tangential rollers come into action.

The guide frame of a gas-holder, as a rule, is constructed to withstanda Wind velocity of one hundred miles per hour, and the rollen pressuresdue to such a Windload are so far in excess of what the springs cansustain that the strains in the guide frame caused by the radial rollerscan be entirely neglected. he tangential rollers mainly are used toimpart the holder Wind pressures to the guide frames, and in tbearrangement illustrated these pressures are symmetrically distributed tothe guide columns or frames Within substantially the circumferentialholder area. This permits a material decrease in the Weight of thesupport or guiding structure, and this is still further decreased in thepreferred form of construction of the guide-columns herein disclosed.The carriage structure herein disclosed and the mounting of the rollersalso possess features of mechanical advantage to increase the etliciencyof the entire structure, oder-ing compactness and stability, and areduction in the number of parts. The carriage frame is preferably builtup from structural and angle iron, which materially reduces the Weightand provides reinforcements. lt is of rectangular form and comprises theside plates l, 2, each having top and bottom angle plates 3, 4, rivetedthereto With the side plates connected by the top and bottom cross plate5, 6. The extension of the loiver angles et are riveted to the croivn ofthe holder 7.

8, 9, represent front and rear cross plates, the front plate riveted toangle plates l0, 1l, Which in turn are riveted to the side plates l, 2.The rear cross plate 9 is riveted to angle plates l2, 18, which areriveted to the side plates l, 2, and form a rear support for the stem orshank, supporting the radial roller.

les, l5, represent channel plates relatively spaced from each other andsecured intermediate of the side plates l, 2, to the top and bottomcross plates G. r his provides a rectangular opening or housing againstWhich a square bushing is engaged to prevent rotation of the radialroller shank 1S.

17 represents a bearing plate secured to the front plate 8 and providedWith a. bore forming a bearing for the radial roller shank 1S, with therear end of the shank supported in the rear frame plate 9. The forwardend of the shank 18 is yoked to receive the radial roller 19 joulnaledupon an axle 2O mounted in the yoke limbs of the shank 18. 2lwrepresents a square bushing engaging bet-Ween the channel plates la,l5, and rigidly secured to the shank 1S to prevent the same fromrotating or swiveling, but alloW a longitudinal or radial movement ofthe shank Within said guide or channel plates 14, l5, in a movement ofthe holder and carriage toward the guide columns.

22 represents a spring encircling the shank, one end engaging theshoulder 23, formed on said shank, with the opposite end of the springengaged against the rear frame plate 9. This spring yieldingly urges theshank 1S tovfard the guide columns to maintain the radial roller inengagement with the guiding surface of the column, with the springpressure utilized for centering the holder when not subjected to endpressure. rhe rear end of said shank is screw threaded to receive thenut 2st, offering a means for maintaining the parts in an assembledposition during the erection of the structure, and has practically noutility in the operation of the carriage. lt also serves as a means forinserting the spring in position under compression, adding conveniencein mouting the parts.

25 represents a tangential roller journaled upon the shank 18, with itshub adapted to engage the bearing plate 17, relieving the shank fromsome of the strains when the tangential roller becomes active. Theperiphery of the tangential roller 25 projects bet-Ween two guidingsurfaces t of the column, Which, in the preferred form of construction,is of H-form, producing three relatively right angled bearing surfaces,tivo of Which are parallel or substantially so, and radial relative tothe holder, and comprised in the limbs 27, 28, of the l-i-beam orcolumn, and the tangential surfaces b comprising the cross strut 26connecting the limbs 2T, 2S. The columns are connected by the side beams30, whereby the structure as a Whole presents a frame of polygonaloutline With the columns forming the corners thereof.

The tangential roller is journaled concentrically With the shank of theradial roller centralizing the action of both rollers, producing' abalanced condition, preventing binding tendencies With the guidingsurfaces of the column and thereby do not offer counter resistanceagainst each other. This, together with the circumferential dispositionof the. column prevents the tangential rollers from binding between theguiding surfaces or in any Wise interfering With the free and easyoperation of the holder.

Fig. l of the drawings diagrammatically illustrates a holder With tenguiding carriages and columns therefor, in which it Will llO be seenthat they are arranged in opposing sets along diametric or bisectinglines of the holder symmetrically spaced around the circumference of theholder and with the tangential roller guiding surfaces parallel with theaxial line of their respective carriages. Therefore, assuming that thearrow, indicated on said ligure, directs toward the leeward side of theholder, with the barbed end of the arrow. toward the windward side, theradial rollers c, el, e, f, and g on the leeward side bear1 againsttheir respective column guides, while the radial rollers it, t', y', 7cand Z on the Windward are moved away and do not engage their respectivecolumn guides and are not subjected to any pressure whatever. rilhesprings for these latter rollers having moved the bushings 2l intoengagement with the front cross plate 8 of its carriage frame. rl`hetangential rollers, it will be noticed, all bear against theirrespective guide surface of the column toward the leeward side, exceptthe two central tangential rollers or the two parallel with thedirection of the wind, from which it will be seen that the wind forcesare distributed to all the columns, which are in any degree transverseto the direction of the wind, and it can therefore be said that thestresses or forces are symmetrically distributed to substantially all ofthe columns of the series surrounding the holder. Such distribution ofpressure enables a material reduction in the weight of material, in theconstruction of the columns or guide frame, which is further reduced bythe particular form illustrated. rlhe radial rollers when yieldinglymounted materially prevent quivering actions of the holder or suddentransmission of its lateral strains to the columns, being resisted insuch movements to the capacity of the springs.

lt is obvious that the radial rollers could be dispensed with, as in theconstruction illustrated, they serve only one purpose, that of centeringor restoring the holder to its perpendicular position, and do not impartany wind pressures to its column, owing to its yielding function. rEheholder cannot sway a suilicient distance to move the tangential rollerparallel with the wind direction suliiciently to move the same intoengagement with its opposing guide surfaces or the shoulder on the shankof the radial roller, for the reason that the remainder tangentialrollers of the series would have subsequently engaged a guide surface oftheir respective columns, preventing such excessive movement. lt isobvious, however, that the radial rollers could be utilized inconjunction with the tangential rollers for receiving and transmittingthe radial strains and forces to the columns, and such use iscomprehended under the disclosure herein, and in which instance theyielding feature of such roller might be dispensed with. With theyielding form of radial roller when the holder is not subject to anywind pressure, and is in its normal perpendicular position, thetangential rollers are practically relieved and the holder guided in itsvertical movement solely by the radial rollers. This provides easierriding of the holder. It will also be seen that the points of contact ofall the rollers with their re spective guiding surfaces are all in thesame horizontal plane, which is accomplished by mounting the tangentialrollers concentrically with the supporting shank of the radial roller,which provides a compact structure and has mechanical advantages in itsmanufacture, as well as in its utility.

The l-'l-form of guide-way provides a very rigid structure and amaterial saving of material over known structures commonly enr ployedand in which the guiding limbs in such arrangement are each reinforcedby limbs at right angles thereto, which limbs also function as guidingsurfaces, rendering it possible to use lighter weight material, offeringcheapness in its manufacture and simplicity in its construction. Theposition of the lei-beams or columns is also very iinportant to achievethe best results, and which is preferably as shown in the draw ings, inwhich the web connecting the flanges of the beam is substantiallyparallel to a tangent to the holder, presenting the flanges radially tothe holder. ln such position the axis for the greatest moment of inertiaand section modulus falls in a line with the radius of the holder. Thisproduces a channel facing the holder and provides three guidingsurfaces. The radial roller engages with the one and the tangentialroller one of the two opposing sections, dependingl upon the directionof movement of the holder.

The serial use herein illustrated is preferable for guiding gas holders,but it is obvious that the guiding instrmnentalities may be individuallyemployed for other uses and, therefore, l do not wish to be limitedherein to the multiple or serial form and the geometric relativedisposition of mounting.

Having described my invention, l claim l. The combination with agas-holder and guiding means therefor, comprising a series of guidecolumns each of li-form in crosssection arranged around the holder, aseries of guiding carriages on the holder, cach sup porting a rollernormally engaging the web surface of a column, and a second rollerhaving its axis co-planar with the axis of said first-named rollerintervening the oppositely disposed flange surfaces of the column toengage the same independently coordinate to the direction of lateralmovement of the holder'.

2. The combination with a gas-holder and guiding means therefor,comprising a series of guide columns disposed around the holder, eachhaving opposing guide surfaces in parallelism with a diametric line ofthe holder, and a guide surface joining the saine at right anglesthereto, a carriage for each column mounted on said holder, a pair ofrollers journaled thereon With their axes coplanar and relativelytransverse to each other, so as to engage a guide surface of the columnin parallelism with the peripheral face of roller.

The combination with a gas-holder and guiding means therefor, comprisinga series of guide columns surrounding the holder, each having guidesurfaces radially and tangentially disposed relative to the holder, aradial roller for each guide column yieldingly mounted on said holder tonormallyT engage with a tangential surface of the guide column, and atangential roller mounted on said holder, having its axis coplanar withthe axis of said radial roller in` tervening said radial guide surfacesof a column to engage therewith cordinate to the latter movement of theholder to symmetrically transmit the holder strains to substantially theentire series of guiding columns.

et. A guiding carriage of the class described, having a plurality ofguiding rollers, with their diametric lilies disposed at right angles toeach other, with their axes co-planar, said rollers arranged to traverseWithin a channel, the Walls of which provide a guide surface for theperiphery of the roller parallel therewith.

5. il guiding carriage of the class described, comprising a frame, aroller supporting' shank movably mounted on said frame, a rollerjournaled transversely thereon at one end, and a second rollerconcentrical y journaled about said shank.

G. The combination With a gas-holder of a series of guiding columnstherefor, each of H-form in cross-section disposed and united inpolygonal arrangement aro-und the holder with the axis of the maximummoment of inertia and maximum section modulus of each guiding column ina radial line with the holder and roller means intermediate the holderand each guiding' column.

A structure of the nature disclosed combining a vertically movableholder, a polygonal sided frame surrounding said holder, vertical guidecolumns of H-form in crosssection, forming the corners of the polygonand disposed with the axis of the maximum moment of inertia and themaximum section modulus of each column in a diametric line with theholder, to provide two opposing guiding surfaces approximately inparallelism With the holder diametric line, and rollers journaled onsaid holder, one for each column, each intervening said guide section ofa respective column, With its periphery capable of engaging saidsurfaces independently.

8. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a guiding track, amember to be guided, a roller journaled upon said member and engagingsaid track having its axis movable longitudinally, a second rollerjournaled transversely about the axis of said first roll, adapted toengage with said track, and tension means interposed between said memberand second roller.

9. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a guiding track havingtivo relatively opposing parallel Ways and a third Way transverselyintermediate of the first named Ways, a member to be guided, a rollerjouraled thereon adapted to alternately engage With said parallel Waysand a second roller axially co-planar With said lirst named rolleradapted to engage With said transverse Way.

l0. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a guide column oficl-form in cross section, a member to be guided, a roller journaledupon said member projected intermediate of the parallel limbs of saidli-column, a second roller axially co-planar with said lirst namedroller adapted to project intermediate of said parallel limbs and engagevvith the transverse limbs of said tl column.

ll. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a circular gas holder,a series of guiding columns each of lvl-form in cross section disposedaround said holder unitarily combined to form a polygonally sidedstructure, with the opposing limbs of each column in parallelism vvith adiametric holder plane, a series of rollers journaled upon said holdereach in a diametric plane therewith adapted to engage between theparallel limbs of a respective column, and a second roller for eachfirst named roller of the series journaled transversely and axiallycoplanar tnerewith each adapted to engage the transverse connecting limbo-f its respective guide column.

l2. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a guiding track, amember to be guided, a roller supporting element movably mounted on saidmember, a roller on said supporting element adapted to engage the saidtrack, a second roller journaled concentrically with said rollersupporting element adapted to engage said track transversely to saidfirst-named roller.

13. A guiding frame of the nature disclosed comprising a polygonal-sidedstructure, its apexes provided With vertical guide columns, each havinga Web normal to the radius line passing through its center and eachhaving tivo flanges parallel with and equidistant from said radius lineand extended to opposite ides of said web.

let. A Guiding gas-holder frame comprising a polygonal-sided structure,its corners nesepeo provided With guide columns of lil-form incross-section, with the Web of each column tangentially disposedrelative to a circular holder.

15. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a guiding track, amember to be guided, a roller supporting element on said member, aroller j ournaled thereon engaged with said track, and a. rollerjournaled concentric about said roller supporting element engaging saidtrack at right angles to said first-named roller.

15. The combination with a gas-holder and guiding means therefor,comprising a series of guide columns each of icl-form in cross-sectionarranged around the holder, a series of guicing carriages on Lne holder,a roller journaled upon each carriage normally engaging the web surfaceof a respective column, and. a second roller for each carriage havingits axis co-planar with the axis of said first named roller interveningthe oppositely disposed flange surfaces of a respective column andengaging the same independently coordinate to the lateral movement ofthe holder.

1'?. The combination With a gas-holder and guiding means therefor,comprising giiiide columns, each of itl-form in cross-section arrangedaround the holder, a roller for each column journaled upon the holdernominally engaging the Web surface of a respective column, a secondroller for each column journaled upon the holder having its axisco-planar with the axis of said firstnamed roller intervening theoppositely disposed flange surface of the column to cngage the sameindependently coordinate to the lateral movement of the holder.

18. The combination With a member to be guided and a channel tracktherefor, of a pair of rollers supported upon said member, theirperipheries engaging respective surfaces Within the channel of saidtrack, having their diametric lines disposed at right angles to eachother, and their axes coplanar.

19. The combination with a member to be guided and a channel tracktherefor, of a roller mounted on said member radially movable, and asecond roller journaled transversely to said first-named roller With theaxes of said rollers co-planar, and both rollers engaging respectivesurfaces Within the channel of said track.

20. The combination with a member to be guided, a guide member ofl'l-form in cross-section with its opposing flanges ei;- tending radialrelative to the guided member, and its connecting web transversethereto, a roller radially 'journaled upon said guided member engagingsaid web surface, and a second roller transversely journaled on saidguided member having its axis eoplanar with the axis of said firstnamedmember engaging the opposing flanges of said guide member.

2l. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a member to be guided,a guide member, a pair of rollers having their axes co-planar journaledupon said member to be guided, one of said rollers yieldingly movableradially, and the second roller journaled transversely to said radiallymovable roller.

i2. J1 siructiufe of the nature disclosed, a ciriailar gas-holder, aguiding structure of polygonal-sided form, its corners provided withlai-beams disposed radially with the axis of the maximum moment ofinertia, and o maximum section modulus of each icl-beam in radial linewith the holder to produce guiding channels facing the holder, rollersupporting means projected radially from the holder toward each beamchannel, a roller journaled upon said supporting means, one for eachchannel engaging 'the surface thereof parallel to a tangent to saidholder, a second roller for each channel journaled upon said supportingmeans at right angles to said first-named roller and traversing betweenthe surfaces radial to the roller and capable of engaging only one ofsaid surfaces at an interval, and axially co-planar With a respectivefirst-named roller.

E38. A structure of the nature disclosed, a circular gas-holder, aguiding structure of polygonal-sided form, its corners provided withicl-beams disposed. vertically with the axis of maximum moment ofinertia and maximum section modulus of each beam in a radial line withthe holder producing guiding channels facing the holder, rollersupporting means projected radially from the holder toward each beamchannel, a roller journaled upon said supporting means, one for eachchannel engaging a surface thereof parallel to a tangent to said holder,and yieldingly connected to said holder, to provide for independentradial movement of either holder or roller to relieve the beam of suchdirect radial strains, a second roller for each channel journaled uponsaid said supporting means at right angles to said first-named rollerstraversing between the guide surfaces radial to the holder engaging thesame independently.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY dflllll STGFFELS. 1Witnessf-is:

@Lives l. KAISER, lllninni SrnN-nn.

tentes of patent obtained for uve cents each, by addressing theecainiraioncr el? "fatt-nte,

Washington, l). e.

